and hello, everyone. this is a special coverage of irene tonight.

we're told 15 buildings were damaged when a tornado touched down there. there are no reports of injuries so far. and it is right in our area. look at this. there are not any reports t is being blamed for eight deaths up and down the coast so far. in north carolina video of a steeple bent over by the wind. and siding off a moment and several things shredded. we have complete coverage. we have reporters around. i look at it. we have the storm centered now just to the south, i would say the southwest of ocean city. you can see the center there south and that circle there.

there it is t is moving up to the northeast around 16 miles an hour. plenty of rain for this system. we have probably steady to moderate rain pretty much all night long across baltimore, central maryland and sections of the shore where many spots are see 5:00 to 7 inches of rain another 3 or 4 or more -- see 5 to 7 inches of rain, another 3 or 4. and we can easily see 1 to 3 inches more between now and dawn when i think most of this will be past the region t is possible. but now take a look around the region. we have heavy bands moving in now across the area. as you can see the red indicates moderate to heavy rain coming in. we have flash flood warnings very important. this area through the city under flash flood warnings.

many areas with the warnings and that's probably the most important day. and you the heavy rains are causing flooding in the areas just don't go out t is just ridiculous. to the north we have a watch that is in effect for the area from delaware up through the area. as you can see that will continue until 5 a.m. now let's take a look at the storm this is just in, just the update. that's coming in. the winds are 81 miles an hour. that's off to the north, northeast at 16. the pressure has come up t has weakened a bit. now sunday morning, that's tomorrow morning, 8:00 the storm is already into central new jersey so that's good news because once it gets up there our rains and winds will start to diminish. it will head up to the area and new york could get hit directly by the storm and will be a

category one in that location. let's take another look nor the local area we have warnings on the eastern shore. and flash flood for the area as you can see in maryland and watches and advisories are over much of the eastern shore areas as well. now we have a look at the winds from the storm. tim? >> as we have been talking about we have been seeing this playing out over the last day or so. as we have been watching it moving on up, we're watching sustained winds at 36 miles per hour around 43 miles per hour north of that heading up to elkton and bwi. as you take a look at the winds around cambridge and to ocean city. 39-mile per hour winds. 47-mile per hour the areas are

reporting winds in the tropical around the higher level. as we look at the gusts, the gusts are higher, 48-mile per hour. these are reported in the last hour up near northeast maryland. and down near dover. 33-mile per hour gusts. that's pretty much an indication of what we have been dealing with all through this evening into the night time hours. the storm is moving across the mouth of the day. we'll keep you posted with what is going on as far as the wind gusts. we'll have that coming up in a bit. back over to you dep niece. >> thank you for that. mike hellgren is in ocean ski where it is getting rough. he was in a dark hotel on the fifth floor. there was a lot of wind out there. what is going on now?

>> well you can see the wind as irene gets closer to ocean city tonight. and they had everyone evacuated. we have been telling you that the strong winds are coming and they are hear now. and there was damage. and we could not survey the other damage 367-8900 people remain here and as you can see it is tough to stand up. the winds temperatures have deteriorated. we'll send it back to you. let's go now to jessica who is reporting on the effect on ocean city. we'll have more from the

eastern shore. the rain is pelting us and it feels like hail as soon as the wind is picking up it is stinging you. we have been out here they have been evacuating only about 300 people, and they were hoping the rest of the people in ocean city would get out in time for this hurricane to blow through. we're counting down and waiting for it to hit us. as i said we're feeling it. and this what it looked like a short time ago. >> the roads leading into ocean city are closed as a few residents make their way out of town. 300 people. that was as of yesterday. some of them may have come to their senses. what he hope they did. >> and officials will not be available once the winds reach 50 miles per hour. but some are taking their chances. >> people live through this all

the time why should it be different. don't do anything stupid. >> and the businesses shut down completely. the destination is now a ghost town f anyone was not smart enough to heed that warning and for some reason we're in ocean city stay inside and hunker down. >> and the high school is now a shelter for those with nowhere else to go. >> nothing to do and be bored. and wait it out. that's what we're doing. ready to go home. >> reporter: we're getting bafted at this point. we think that it is coming in one direction and the wind will shift and hit news another direction. at this point they are picking up as well.

we're. we'll monitor the situation. >> to show you how big the storm is. a moment ago the mayor of new york said that the edge of the has reached new york and no locker safe to be out. look what we're going through. and there is and you can see it coming done like this. and let's go to where she has been monitoring emergencies are coming in t is critical. you can see there is a full house, people working trying to monitor the storm and where it will go and trying to figure out where the damage is going to be. and they say the biggest is urban flooding.

some of the good news they expect the surge to be three feet. ocean city will get pounded that's what the governor is saying. and they are having to be pulled off the roads t is too dangerous. and the governor spoke telling us this just the start. >> we're heading into the worst part. this is not a time but we stadiumed hard for the test. i hope you have seen the professionalism here in the room. and they are in the room now. they are being briefed. we have been sitting here being briefed on some of the they are dealing with trying to set up shelters and there is fuel and a number of problems as it

bears down on us. we know the governor and lieutenant governor monitoring it. everyone will be here into tomorrow overnight and well into next week. we'll follow the story for now. live at, adam, megan thank you for that. thank you very much. let's go to mike schuh, he continues our coverage. he is live and keeping an eye on the situation now in baltimore city. mike to bring you up to date we're hearing reports coming in of some trees that are falling in baltimore as a as a result of the continued wind that we're seeing there. what is happening? >> there nearly deserted. not all stayed inside. >> the southern part of the outer banks. we were evacuated on wednesday

or thursday. the preparation for the hurricane. i did not come prepared. they are paying off. and fearing the rising water they called out the trucks keeping the cars off the tphraold prone areas one car at a time. >> and earlier bags drew hundreds trying to protect their homes and when the power goes out. bge says that it may be out for days. >> a lot of tree damage so you have to have, it is like an opera. you have to have the crews go in and clear out the trees before the overheadline crews can to in and restore the lines and the power. >> one other thing to take note there are more police around the area, we have positions and officers throughout the city we want people to know there will be an emergency response available and we are holding over some officers to make sure

that we have enough officers during the shift change. >> it is really howling out now. earlier we talked to people who did not think it was that big of a deal t is a big deal right about now when the winds pick up as we have been saying is saturated. they are doing 40 miles an hour. tough brace yourself. you will see more trees falling down and across the roads and more power outages will happen with the wind as it is now. and there was something about what the mayor said that i noticed earlier on today in travels about the city that something didn't just feel like baltimore. i could not put my finger on it until the last 10 to 15 minutes. throughout the day there were not any sirens that i could hear. things were so calm and quiet, well those had just started to pick up, i heard a number in the area and it is probably related to the increased winds

and, well, i'm certain there is more damage reports because the winds are really, really picking up. reporting live from harbor east. back to you on tv hill. >> and it is correct. we're getting reports of trees that have come down and certain parts of baltimore as you saw there from mike who has been out in fells pont for us all day long. this is about the worst weather has been for actual downtown baltimore we take a look now of the city right there from our harbor camera. you can see that it is raining in many, many parts of the city. we're going to go now to mema and i believe that she has the governor with her right now and she is going to have a chance to do a live interview with the governor. megan, are you available yet, is that set up? >> let me bring you up to date.

and first off and 1.5 million homes and slamming into the east coast. they're saying a million or more of these could be in the dark by the end of saturday night as the storm is charging north. there could be two and a half million people losing power up and down the east coast right here in maryland and delaware it appears that probably around 200,000 people are without power more than 100,000 customers, the majority in anne arundel county. the numbers are climbing quickly now in baltimore city. we're going to get back to megan and first let's go to, we're continuing our coverage from annapolis of the conditions there. they have been changing by the

minute. and we're down there at the city blocks from annapolis. >> in the heart at city dock on where things are picking up. the rain is coming down harder. the winds are stronger. and anne arundel is shut down the severn river bridge. no one is going over that just another sign of how powerful they are. and the cars are going through to make sure people are out of the parking lot and they're not walking around. they're asking people to go inside because we're expecting the worse in the next couple of hours. high tide and annapolis will be around 4:30 no the morning. officials say they are getting more rain than they anticipated. there is no standing water now they expect that to change from what we thought would be eight inches to 11. so, and flooding potential

increased. that on the 5 o'clock high tide we know there will be more extensive flooding in the area and the than we anticipated. and we're looking at some winds and the gusts on top of it. we received over 30 calls for downed power lines and trees. so it is becoming very dang rouse as the evening wears op, woo very so many communities that people have been getting ready, there is not a single boat here and here and the businesses have been preparing all week as well. they have been taping up and boarding up. this very been weighing down and when the worse rolls through they can protect their lively hood. as that happens, the officials here in annapolis, they are trying to protect everyone's life and keep people safe, they say if you have not evacuated from the low lowing areas to go ahead and go to the annapolis. they can bring pets. they are up 24-7. they stress

when it rolls around it could be dangerous and so they say if you head out to be just very, very careful f you don't have to, stay put. again things are getting crazy out here. we will bring you the update as we get them. >> thank you. the eye of the storm getting closer and closer to maryland. a few notes related to what talking about. the winds now says that renee another viewer says high winds and flashing power and another person rights. and electricity went out for one hear. someone hurt a transformer blow and waverly and thousands of customers in the dark, that's 117,000 people as of this hour. the majority is in anne arundel county. half at last check wean we could get on the web site.

another 91,000 customers have lost power and in case do you lose power tonight. and you need to call and report through a power outage. don't assume that they will know it is out. don't assume your neighbor will call. make the call yourself that's a way to ensure that the power is back on. >> call 877, 778-2222. you can report downed wires. if you are on the eastern shore we have people watching us in the area. and the number is 800-898-8042. >> and all right irene is beating the east coast. as i said the very tip entered new york city. the mayor of new york announced that a huge storm. the carolinas where it has left the already assessing the -- assessing the damage.

that's for unprecedented. we have more from wjz tonight. >> irene tore holes in building. and 100-mile per hour winds t is gusts knocked down signs and lines during the height of the storm and he had they haded out to check on the damage to the homes f it doesn't do more than what it has done. i think we'll be okay. >> and north carolina's governor says the state's coast was hit hard. >> and the people have sustained some damage, i don't know the cost but i think the cost is going to be significant. >> here in the outer bank they are expecting more damage through the night t is a major concern. and they expect flooding to be a lingering problem as irene heads up the coast. >> in virginia. and crews were forced to rescue two people on board t is

believed that the hurricane spawned storms damaging homes. irene is blamed for several deaths including an 11-year-old boy who died when a tree crashed into his home in virginia. >> and the states evacuated more than 2 million people in the path. new york city is not taking chances, it suspended mass transit. and officials say that even though irene is weak ter is very dangerous. >> stay with us for first warning weather coverage. woo very been on this all day and throughout the night. the president is watching the storm he visited fema's command center and there are thousands of troops to help with the efforts once the storm

clears. what vel up to the minute updates. you can track the storm as well. >> the forecast is on the home page of our web site at www.wjz.com. stay with wjz news as we take a picture from ocean city. we're tracking irene. we'll have more coverage coming up. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

and complete coverage of irene and bob and tim kill yams are tracking the path of the storm. i believe. >> that is om mouse, you can hear it from the studio now all the rain coming down. >> and in the area. as you heard, let's take a look at radar, the edge of the rain that's a live shot right here out back. that's a -- that's a lot of rain, folks, we're talking an inch of rain an hour. the back edge it is not that far south and west as it rotates from up the south and the southeast, the center of the storm now only about 60 miles and right in through the there is it is getting close and it will hit up to atlantic

city and that up to the new york city area. let's look at the winds these are the current wind speeds not that impressive. when you are down here and strongest gusts now. there you see it, down by richmond, 61 miles an hour. and 39, 39. a lot of these are barely, barely tropical storm force winds. let's check ocean city. they are close. salisbury at 49 miles an hour. up in dover 39 so we haven't seen the winds more and the strongest wends i have seen are down and they were 62 miles an hour. 40 to 41 is about the most i have seen. i think in the we'll see gusts around 50 miles per hour. now, as far as the rain totals are concerned. we'll have a look at that. >> well you have seen the pace of the rain that's coming down. we're doing our best to give

you a representation of what it s one we do not have. that's impressive that is salisbury at 4.65 inches of rain. that's the last check. that was an hour ago. we're seeing other totals come in. and 6 inches. and that's the start of the storm. and just around 5.95 and again all the totals are adding up beyond what we have here. and around 2.5 inches. bw easement around 2 inches. bowie at # .526789 gentleman 3- inch -- buoy at .5 and -- 2.5 at bowie and chesapeake beach and the next at 6:37. edge water 434. and 455. 215 in col. s point and ocean city the next high tide at 7:42 a.m.

we'll keep you posted on the rain totals for now. bob, back over to you. >> take a look around the region as far as the forecast. and go to the computer we'll show you temperature-wise we have not moved. in the 70s with the winds coming in at 21. that's pushing the water out of the bay, that's a good thing. we're not looking at southerly winds. and the wind gusts and 41 ocean city we're around 39 miles an hour. and it is taking the storm right east of ocean city through southern jersey up to new york city by tomorrow early in the afternoon. and by the night it is up across new england. tomorrow morning #k it is in jersey, we should be done with the storm by the early morning hours. look for clearing in the afternoon. and look how the clouds goes from maine to the north

carolina forder. it is bringing in tons of moisture. lots of flooding to the north. the storm will go through the region. sunshine returns. nice weather for later in the day tomorrow and monday. again that warning in the bay, the fog for the overnight stormy weather into the morning. flash flood something a definite in many areas. and clear in the afternoon windy. high of 82. the next five days. beautiful weather. monday, tuesday, wednesday. we'll deal with the rain 6 or 7 in the morning. >> adam. i want to pass along a update from baltimore city police. smith and kelly avenue closed right now in the city because of high water. this is near the jones fall and there is concern now that the levels in that area it is an area prone to flooding -- flooding. smith and kelly sections of that closed because of high water. we want to check in with the

executive. he is currently live with us on the phone. the couldn'tty that is getting hit. thank you for joining us again. how you are doing? >> we're okay. we have 60 road closures. and the naval academy or route 450 is closed. and anne arundel medical center lost its powerment they have pack up generators we have 66,000. and bwi has several inches. and at the shelter which we established in annapolis and the senior high school. we have over 50 people there. and ten pets t is a pet friendly shelter. people can bring the pets and

we'll welcome that they can do that. but of course with the low lying areas and said all along they should evacuate. use the shelt fer they can. -- the shelt fer they can -- shelter if they can. and shady side that will accept people on an emergency basis and they will be transported. so, we know that one of the storm is about on us we expect more outages as time goes by, you said 60 roads are closed in anne arundel, this they clued because of flooding, trees? what is the reason? >> the downed trees. primarily the downed trees. and there have been some have been open. but 60 all together is the latest report i have. >> you are losing trees there falling on roads any trees on homes? >> not as of yet. after all is said and ton we'll

go out and assess where they stand. it's not unusual in this county to see a number of falling trees. we had high winds and the drenching rains and ground that had been saturated that means the trees will tumble and bring down the lines. >> you said it best when we have a storm i know that over the last few years anne arundel county bears the brunt of the outages. we're seeing that now. thank you for the update on the situation. (change of

you have a water main break. how would you find the source of the break to try to cap it. unbelievable problem. >> i wonder if any of this is as a result. of course, we have the earthquake, too, with the ground and the water. >> we're used to states in california. people having multiple disasters. i'm from california,

originally. oh, well, the californians, what do we expect. mudslides, rains, fires. what do they expect? have they had a earthquake and hurricane within four days? i don't think so. >> one of the best things, what's next? , no, no, it's the stink bug. >> we have those already. all right. we have much more coverage of hurricane irene. we're going to steak a -- take a short break. stay with us.